PATH 1: CERNOBBIO - SAN FEDELE D'INTELVI

DONGO
LA VIA DEI MONTI LARIANI - PATH 1
OSTENO
VAL D’INTELVI
RIF. CRISTÈ
C.A.I
m 1.129
SAN FEDELE
BUS
m 779
MENAGGIO
ALPE D’ORIMENTO
m 1.276
CAP. BRUNO
C.A.I
m 1.180
P. DELLA CROCE
m 1.492
M.TI
CAROLZA
m 1.110
BUS
CASASCO
m 822
ARGEGNO
M. GENEROSO
m 1.701
ERBONNE
RIF. PRABELLO
C.A.I. R
m 1.200
SASSO GORDONA
m 1.410
PIAN DELLE ALPI
m 1.000
COLMA DI SCHIGNANO
R
BUS
SCHIGNANO
600
RIF. BINATE
C.A.I.
m 1.250
BRIENNO
S. BERNARDO
ALPE DI CARATE
m 1.270
M. COLMEGNONE
m 1.383
M. BISBINO
m 1.325
COLMA
DEL CRINCO
m 1.204
RIF. MURELLI
R C.A.I.
m 1.200
RIF.
R DEL BUGONE
m 1.119
CARATE URIO
M.TI MADRONA
m 850
M.TI SCARONE
m 600
CÀ BOSSI
m 1.150
MOLTRASIO
BELLAGIO
ROVENNA
m 450
m 202
CERNOBBIO
1
BUS
BUS
COMO
VALLE ALBANO
PATH 1: CERNOBBIO - SAN FEDELE D’INTELVI
RIF. GIOVO
C.A.I.
RIF. SOMMMAFIUME
C.A.I.
TOTAL WALKING TIME: 9.30 HOURS
BRENZEGLIO
DISTANCE : 28 KM
662
GARZENO
CATASCO
BUS
SORICO
GRAVEDONA

LA VIA DEI MONTI LARIANI - PATH 1
On the first part of this section one has to deal
with an ascent of 1000 m up the slopes of
Monte Bisbino. The second part has less ascent,
offers beautiful views and runs along Sasso
Gordona with its tunnels and emplacements
built during the first World War.
CERNOBBIO (200 m.) The ‘VIA DEI MONTI
LARIANI’ starts at Cernobbio in Piazza Mazzini
where the main bus stop is. Cross the main
road, pick up Via A. Volta and when you get to
a circus continue straight on in the direction of
Pian delle Alpi (photo Giuseppe Venini)
Rovenna and Monte Bisbino. At the end of the
road, just past the bend, after 20 m, pick up Via
G. Parini on the left. Once on the road again, follow it as far as Casnedo and at the church turn right. Cross a bridge and
take left and pass through the village Stomaino. A shortcut leads to
ROVENNA (450 m. 0.45 hours) – which can also be reached by bus (line C28) from Cernobbio. You pass the church
square (where also the bus stop is). At the bend turn left following the indications for Scarone and Madrona. After a
brief stretch you reach the beginning of the mule track that leads up in large bends to MONTE SCARONE and from
there to
MADRONA (850 m. 1.00 ; 1.45 hours). Follow the road up to the second curve, where you pick up the mule-track to
Monte Bisbino which passes by the chapel of S. Carlo. At the end of the mule-track, before reaching the road leading to
the top of Monte Bisbino turn right in order to reach
CA’ BOSSI (1188 n. 1.00 ; 2.45 hours). From here a wide track goes slightly downhill to
COLMA DAL BUGONE (1119 m. 0.40 , 3.25 hours) where rifugio Bugone is located. This is where two paths coming
up from Moltrasio meet. You pass ancient beech-woods and get beautiful views of the lake, the Western Alps, Monte Generoso
and Sasso Gordona. Past COLMA DEL CRINCO the ‘Via’ leads on to the
COLMA DEI MURELLI (1200 m 0.45 ; 4.05 hours) where you find Rifugio Murelli [From this point you can make a detour
of about half an hour to Monte Colmegnone (1383 m.), which has a magnificent view, or to Monte San Bernardo (1348
m.) with its characteristic little church and Agriturismo. From Colma dei Murelli an easy cart-track leads to ALPE DI
CARATE where you pick up the mule-track to
RIFUGIO BINATE (1200 m. 0.35 ; 4.40 hours) From here the mule-track becomes a path which runs half way up the
mountainside, the Swiss-facing slope, through fields and alpine pastures to
COLMA DI SCHIGNANO (also called della Crocetta) (1135 m. 0.20 ; 5.00 hours) [ from here it’s possible to go down
to Schignano (0,45 min) where there is a bus stop or to Argegno (2.00 hrs)]. At the next intersection at the height of a cross,
take right over to the side that faces the Val d’ Intelvi and continue on an old military road that leads around Sasso Gordona.
Inside this mountain there are tunnels with emplacements. In fact Sasso Gordona was part of the great defence
line called Linea Cadorna, built in 1915 along the Swiss-Italian border, to thwart a possible German offence. At the intersection
with the indication Alpe Cerano / San Fedele turn right. [The ones who have booked an overnight stay at Rifugio
Prabello (1200m) go straight on and will reach the “rifugio” in about 15 min.] An easy track leads down to
ALPE DI CERANO (960 m 0.50 ; 5.50 hrs) (also called Pian delle Alpi) –[ road connection with Casasco 40 min.
where there is a bus stop (line C21).] Follow the road Casasco to Erbonne to the right, and just past the pic-nic area
leave the road and pick up the mule-track to the left in the direction of Erbonne (sign). At the intersection with some

LA VIA DEI MONTI LARIANI - PATH 1
trail signs on a tree, turn right and follow the track that leads up the farm house of ERMOGNA.
Before reaching the farm house you pass a “bolla” a natural depression in the terrain adapted by man to conserve rainwater
and create a beverage place for the cattle. Near the farmstead you notice a cylindrical formed construction called
“nevera”. These constructions out of stone, which lead deep into the ground, were filled with snow (neve) and used to
conserve food. The easy track leads to MONTE di CAROLZA (1100 m.). and from there after a stretch through the
woods you reach some recently built houses above the town Casasco. Take left and follow the sign for Capanna Bruno
/ San Fedele. Then you reach the road coming up from Casasco, follow it to the left and just past the bend with three
crosses, leave the road and take the trail on the left leading up to the restaurant
CAPANNA GIUSEPPE AND BRUNO (1180 m. 1.30 ; 7.20 hours). Just past the restaurant on the right you find the trail
signs for Alpe Orimento / San Fedele. An almost flat trail leads over the steep fields of Mt. Crocione, and crosses under
a ski lift. The trail leads on to a track and after a stretch downhill at the intersection, take the trail left leading uphill. At
the next intersection keep left again in order to reach
BOCCA DI ORIMENTO (1275 m. 0.45 ; 8.05 hours) where the inn Baita d’Orimento is located (starting point of the excursion
to Monte Generoso (1701 m.). Follow the road leading down to Casasco to the right and after approx. 2 km you
reach RIFUGIO CRISTE‘ (1250 m.) You remain on the road (there are some shortcuts if you want to cut some bends)
that leads around two “bolle” and arrives at an intersection. You leave the road to your right, going to Casasco, and follow
the road left in the direction of San Fedele. After 300 m you leave it and pick up a large cart track on the left leading
to some houses. The cart track becomes a comfortable grassy trail, that leads through a pinewood and then down
through meadowland in the direction of San Fedele, with splendid views of the Val d’Intelvi and the mountains of the
Canton Ticino. The trail leads on to the road towards
SAN FEDELE D’INTELVI (750 m. 1.25 ; 9.30 hours)- hotels - restaurants – bus stop (line C20/21/22) where near the
bus depot, this section ends.
Bocchetta di Nava (photo Jutta Bents)